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Hand-holdable toy light tube

a toy light tube and hand-held technology, applied in the direction of electric lighting with batteries, electric lighting emission/distribution, lighting and heating apparatus, etc., can solve the problems of inability to produce multiple colors, reduced color purity and/or less dramatic color shifts with angle, and inability to illuminate tubes and fluorescent-colored cylinders to produce multiple colors

Inactive Publication Date: 2002-01-24
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tube of color shifting film is configured to resemble an elongated cone. In another preferred embodiment, the tube of color shifting film is configured to telescopically extend and retract relative to the handle. During use of the latter, the tube of color shifting film can be rapidly displaced via movement of the handle, enhancing the visual effect.
[0013] Certain preferred color shifting films used in the present invention are advantageous over prior art color films in many respects. For example, while color shifting films based on isotropic materials are known, these preferred films exhibit decreased reflectivities at non-normal angles of incidence, which diminishes the intensity of the reflected wavelengths at non-normal angles of incidence. Hence, such films appear lighter and have less saturated colors at oblique angles. Other color shifting films change their spectral profile as a function of angle, resulting in diminished color purity and / or less dramatic color shifts with angle.

Problems solved by technology

While illuminated tubes and fluorescent-colored cylinders do present articles appealing to children, some inherent limitations may exist.
For example, illuminated tubes and fluorescent-colored cylinders are generally unable to produce multiple colors.
Thus, an important attribute appealing to children is unfulfilled by existing illuminated tube and fluorescent-colored cylinder toys.
Other color shifting films change their spectral profile as a function of angle, resulting in diminished color purity and / or less dramatic color shifts with angle.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
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example 2

[0113] The following example illustrates the preparation of a another color shifting film.

[0114] A multilayer film containing about 418 layers was made on a sequential flat-film making line via a co-extrusion process. This multilayer polymer film was made PET and polyester resin (available under the trade designation "ECDEL 9967" from Eastman Chemical Co. of Rochester, N.Y.) where PET was the outer layers or "skin" layers. A feedblock method (such as that described by U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,429) was used to generate about 209 layers with an approximately linear layer thickness gradient from layer to layer through the extrudate.

[0115] The PET, with an Intrinsic Viscosity (IV) of 0.56 dl / g was pumped to the feedblock at a rate of about 34.5 Kg / hr and the polyester resin ("ECDEL 9967") at about 41 Kg / hr. After the feedblock, the same PET extruder delivered PET as protective boundary layers (PBL's), to both sides of the extrudate at about 6.8 Kg / hr total flow. The material stream then pass...

example 3

[0121] The following example illustrates the preparation of a visible mirror film.

[0122] A coextruded film containing 601 layers was made on a sequential flat filmmaking line via a coextrusion process. A polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) with an intrinsic viscosity of 0.57 dl / g (60 wt %% phenol / 40 wt % dichlorobenzene) was delivered by extruder A at a rate of 114 pounds per hour with 64 pounds per hour going to the feedblock and the rest going to skin layers described below. PMMA (CP-82 from ICI of Americas) was delivered by extruder B at a rate of 61 pounds per hour with all of it going to the feedblock. PEN was on skin layers of the feedblock. The feedblock method was used to generate 151 layers using the feedblock such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,429, after the feedblock two symmetric skin were coextruded using extruder C metering about 30 pounds per hour of the same type of PEN delivered by extruder A. This extrudate passed through two multipliers producing an extruda...

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PUM

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Abstract

Hand-holdable toy light tube comprising a handle, a light source and a tube of color shifting film. The light source is preferably disposed within an end of the handle. The tube of color shifting film extends from the end of the handle. During use, light from the light source interacts with the tube of color shifting film, producing a brilliant colored effect. Movement of the handle and thus of the tube of color shifting film produces multiple colors.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of pending prior U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 408,473, filed Sep. 28, 1999, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 006,088, filed Jan. 13, 1998, now abandoned. The present invention relates to hand-holdable toy light tubes. More particularly, it relates to a hand-holdable toy incorporating a light source and color shifting film.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002] Children have long been fascinated by the appearance of illuminated or brightly-colored objects. Toy manufacturers have recognized this affinity, and currently provide a variety of different toys or novelty articles that are illuminated or brightly-colored.[0003] Another enticing element common to many toys is a hand-holdable configuration. In other words, many children are highly attracted to and enjoy using a hand-holdable toy or novelty article which can be held and carried by the user. In this regard, several toys have been designed, for example, to include an elo...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A63H33/00A63H33/22F21L4/00F21S10/02F21V9/00F21V9/40F21V33/00F21Y101/00F21Y101/02
CPCA63H33/009A63H33/22F21L4/00F21L15/04F21V9/10F21V33/0084F21V9/45
Inventor HANSON, GARY B.WEBER, MICHAEL F.OUDERKIRK, ANDREW J.
Owner 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES CO
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